A group of smurfs were arrested earlier today for illegal blue paint possession. According to the authorities, the smurfs were caught with gallons of the illegal substance, which they claim was meant for "self-expression".
"It's just not natural," said one of the arresting officers. "Blue paint is meant for walls and canvases, not for blue-skinned creatures who are three apples tall."
The smurfs maintain their innocence, insisting that they were simply trying to explore new ways of self-expression. "We've been blue for as long as we can remember," said Papa Smurf, the leader of the group. "We just wanted to experiment with different shades of blue."
But the authorities aren't buying it. "This isn't about self-expression," said another officer. "This is about breaking the law. Blue paint is a controlled substance and anyone caught with it will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
The smurfs were taken into custody and are currently awaiting a hearing. In the meantime, the streets of Smurf village remain eerily quiet, as the other residents are too afraid to speak out against the authorities.
This incident has sparked outrage among the smurf community, who are calling for reform in the way blue paint is regulated. "We've been blue for centuries," said one smurf activist. "We deserve the right to express ourselves in whatever shade of blue we choose."
As for the rest of us, we can only watch and wait as this situation unfolds. Will the smurfs be set free? Will blue paint continue to be a controlled substance? Only time will tell.
